Conveyer system



MarCh 24, 1925.

R. AMORY GONVEYER SYSTEM Original Filed July 25 1921 2 Sheets-Sheep 1 Mwh 24, 1925. 1,530,589

R. AMORY CONVEYER SYSTEM 0riginal Filed July 25 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jnveniwf Patented Mar. 24, 1925., I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT AMORY, OF MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

1 Application filed July 25, 1921, Seria1 No. 437,334. Renewed August 5, 1924.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Ronnn'r AMonY, a cit zen of the United States, residing at Milton,

in the county'of Norfolk and State of Masother articles being conveyed on to a branch track, station, or the like.

The invention will be herein disclosed as embodied in a conveyer system designed with special reference to the requirements of textile mills, although it will readily be appreciated that this disclosure is made simply by way of illustration and that the invention is equally applicable to many other sitnations. Conveyor systems are used in the more progressive textile mills for many purposes, one such use consisting in the carrying of the full bobbins from the spinning room to the weave room and 'returningthe empty bobbins again to the spinning room. For this purpose the bobbins are placed in boxes and the same conveyer carries both the empty and full boxes and also the boxes containing both the full and empty bobbins. This conveyer deliversthe full boxes to several branches, spurs, or stations in the weave room, these branch tracks or stations running to convenient points for the distribution of the bobbins to thelooms; It is one of the objects of the present invention to devise an automatic switch mechanism for diverting boxes from the conveyer into the branch tracks or stations and for automatically exerting a selective action on the boxes so that only full boxes will be so diverted, the empty boxes continuing to travel along the conveyer. It is also an object of the invention to devise means for preventing the switching of boxes on to the branch or station tracks at certain times, as for instance, when the station has been filled.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan View of a small portion of a conveyer system including features embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a carrier of theform preferred for use in this system.

The construction shown comprises a main conveyer 2 and a branch conveyer or station 3 diverging from the conveyer 2. These conveyors maybe of any suitable-type, but as shown, the main conveyer is of the belt type, the belt being supported on a series of rolls 4 mounted in bearings provided in opposite frame pieces 5 and 6. These frame pieces are supported by suitable standards. The branch conveyer or station 3 is of the roller type and comprises a series of rolls 7 supported at their opposite ends in side pieces8 and 9, in which they are mounted to rotate freely. Each conveyer, therefore, is

of the type having a movable floor to support the articles to be conveyed. Guide bars 10 and 11 are mounted just above the parts 8 and 9, as best shown in Fig. 2, to engage the sides of the carriers being conveyed and prevent them from being thrown off the conveyer track.

The carrlers shown are of novel construction each consisting of a box A, best shown in Fig. 3, having dissimilar opposite ends.

That is, the upper edge of the box at one end thereof is bevelled or inclined, as indicated tit-14. This dissimilar end construction is utilized in efiecting the switching or diverting of the carriers from the conveyer belt 2 into the station 3. For this purpose the carriers are placed on the main conveyer in a definite relationship to the direction of travel of the conveyer, the square end of the carrier being foremost when the box contion and leading from the word Empty,

as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The switching mechanism shown oomprises a switch arm 15 which extends diagonally across the path of travel of the boxes carried by the belt 2, these-boxes moving in the direction indicated by the arrow 16, Figs. 1 and 2. The arm 15 is secured rigidly in a horizontal pivot rod 17 mounted in upright extensions of standards 1818that form part of the supporting mechanism for the branch conveyer. Another arm 19 also secured rigidly to the pivot 17 carries weights 2020 which are adjustably mounted on the arm, these parts being of sufficient weight to substantially counterbalance the weight of the arm 15. The weights are so adjusted that the arm 15 is maintained normally by gravity in its lower or operative with its square end foremost strikes the arm 15, it will be diverted by this arm on to the station track 3. This track .is inclined so that the carriers roll .by gravity down to the far end of the station." When, however-,an empty carrier comes along the belt 2, the bevelled surface 14: of this carrier strikes the arm 15 and raises this arm into the dotted line position, Fig. 2, the pull of the belt on the box A carryingit forward under the switch arm 15.- As soon as an empty carrier has passed under the switch arm 15 the arm drops by gravity into its normal-or operative position again, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2. The full carriers thus are switched or diverted into the station while the empty carriers continue to travel uninterruptedlyalong the conveyer belt 2.

The conveyer usually supplies several stations arranged substantially like the -station 3, and when one of these stations has become filled it is desirable toprevent the further diverting. or switching of'the carriers into thisstation, since obviously this would result in the jamming of the carriers at the entrance to the station. Consequently,

a novel mechanism is provided for moving the switch arm 15 into its inoperative position when the station has become filled. For this purpose a horizontal pivot rod 25 is mounted in supports 26-26 in the same general way that the pivot 17 is mounted, and it has fixed thereto a plate 27 designed to be engaged and lifted'by the edge of a carrier A immediately after this carrier has completely entered the station. Another plate 28 also is secured fast to the pivot 25 and is mounted immediately above the counter-weight arm 19. The plate 27 is heavier than the plate 28 and normally holds the latter plate. above the position occupied by the arm 19 whenthe switch arm 15 is in its operative position, but when one of the carriers A enters the station and strikes the plate 27 the swinging movement thus imparted to this plate results in tipping the plate 28 downwardly into contact with the counter-weight arm 19, depressing this arm sulficiently to raise the switch arm 15 into its inoperative position, as shown It will be observed that each carrierp.

as it slides into the station, strikes the plate 27 and thereby operates to hold the switch arm .15 in an inoperative position for a short length of time. During this time one or two full carriers following immediately after the carrier last entering the station will not be diverted, due to the factthat the switch armis held in its. raised or inoperative position. The first station, therefore, cannot monopolize the carriers.

It will now be evident that this invention provides a ver) simple mechanism for switching the full carriers into-the stations and for discriminating between full and empty carriers, both this mechanism and that for preventing the further diversion .of carriers after the station has been filled operating entirely automatically.

It will also be understood that while the articles handled by the conveyor system have been herein referred to; as carriers, that this term has been used in a generic sense to designate the articles conveyed. It will further be understood that while I have herein disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, that it may be embodied in many forms differing in organization and details from that specifically described. For instance, the carriers may be constructed inmany ways to enable the selecting opera tion above described to be performed. The

particular construction shown, however, has

the advantage ;of beingvery simple and of permitting the stacking of the carriers'in exactly the same way that ordinary boxes can be stacked. The invention may also be used in many other'relationships than that specifically disclosed.

What is claimed as new is: '1. In a conveyer systemhaving diverging ways along which a series ofocarriers. are conducted, carriers each conslstmg .of

a box having one end thereof inclined. and

"automatic switching mechanism for said carrlers comprising an arm normally positioned diagonally across the path of movement ofthe carriers and arranged to be moved into an inoperative position by the inclined end of one of said carriers;

2. i conveyer system including a conveyer for carriers, a station comprising a track diverging from said conveyer, automatic means for switching carriers into said station, and mechanism arranged to be actuated by a carrier in said station for rendering said switching means inoperative.

3. A conveyer system including aconveycr for carriers, a station comprising a track diverging from said conveyer, automatic means for switching carriers into said station, and automatic mechanism for rendering said switching means inoperative to divert carriers into said station when the station is full.

4. A conveyer system including a conveyer for carriers, a station comprising a track diverging from said conveyer, automatic means for switching carriers into said station, and automatic mechanism -t'or rendering said switching means inoperative when a substantially predetermined number of carriers are in the station.

tifi

5. A conveyor system including a conveyer for carriers, a station comprising'a track diverging from said conveyer, automatic means for switching carriers into said station, and mechanism operated by the carrier that fills the station to render said switching means inoperative to divert carriers into said station.

6. A conveyer system including a conveyer forcarriers, a station comprising a track diverging from said conveyer, automatic means for switching carriers into said station, and mechanism arranged to be 01)- erated by a carrier as it enters the station to render said switching means temporarily inoperative to divert additional carriers into. said station.

7. A conveyer system including a conveyer belt, a station diverging from said belt, automatic means for switching carriers into said station comprising a switch arm mounted on a substantially horizontal pivot and positioned diagonally-across the path of movement of the carriers on said conveyer, and connections arranged to be operated by a carrier in said station to raise said arm and hold it above the path of movement of the carriers on said belt.

In a conveyer system, the combination of a conveyer for carriers, a branch diverging from said conveyer, a series of carriers each having a part provided with an inclined face, and-switching mechanism for automatically controlling the path to be followed by an individual carrier, said mechanism including a part arranged to be engaged by said inclined face and moved thereby out of the path of travel of the carriers.

9. In a conveyer system, the combination of a conveyer for carriers, a branch diverging from said conveyer, a series of carriers each having a part provided with an inclined face, and switching mechanism for automatically controlling the path to be fol lowed by an individual carrier, said mechanism including a switch arm positioned for engagement with said carriers before they reach said branch, and supporting means for said arm enabling it to swing upwardly out of the path of movement of said carriers when it is engaged by said inclined face of a carrier.

10. A conveyer system including a main conveyer, a branch diverging from said conveyer, automatic means for switching carriers from said conveyer on to said branch comprising an arm mounted on a substantially horizontal pivot and normally positioned across the path of movement of the carriers on said conveyer, and connections arranged to be operated by a carrier on said branch for swinging said arm on its pivot and holding it abovethe path of movement of the carriers on said conveyer.

11. In a conveyer system, the combination of amain conveyer having a movable floor for transporting carriers, a branch track diverging from said conveyer, automatic means for switching carriers from said conveyer onto said branch track comprising an arm normally held in position to divert carriers onto said branch track, and means for supporting said arm in its operative position but enabling it to swing upwardly out of the path of movementof' said carriers.

12. In a conveyer system, the combination of a main conveyer having a movable floor for transporting carriers, a branch track diverging from said conveyer, a series of carriers each having an, inclined face, automatic means for switching carriers from said main conveyer onto said branch track comprising an arm mounted at one side of said mam conveyer and normally held in position to be struck by said car-v riers as they approach the switching point, and supporting means for said arm enabling it to be swung upwardly out of the path of travel of said carriers by its engagement with the inclined end of one of said car riers.

13. In a conveyer system, the combination of a main conveyer having a movable floor for transporting carriers, a branch track diverging from said conveyer, a series of carriers each having an inclined face, automatic means for switching carriers from said main conveyer onto said branch track comprising an arm overlying said main conveyer in position to be struck by said carriers as they approach the switching point, supporting means for said arm mounted at one side of said conveyer and enabling the arm to swing up and down into and out of its normal position, whereby said arm is swung upwardly above the carriers by the engagement therewith of the inclined face of a carrier but effects the switching of a carrier when engaged by the opposite end of a carrier, and connections arranged to be operated by a carrier on said branch track for raising said arm and holding it above the path of movement of the carriers on said main conveyer.

14:. A conveyer system including a conveyer for carriers, a station comprising a track diverging from said conveyer, automatic means for switching carriers into said station, and automatic mechanism comprising a movable element supported independently of said switching means for rendering said swit-ching'means inoperative under predetermined conditions.

ROBERT AMORY. 

